Political Shake-Up: Rakhi Jadhav Joins BJP, Jolting NCP (SP)

Rakhi Jadhav, the Mumbai unit president of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the city's municipal elections. Her move complicates the NCP (SP)'s electoral strategies and may affect the BJP internally, potentially triggering dissatisfaction within both parties.

In a significant political development, Rakhi Jadhav, the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (SP)'s Mumbai unit, has defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections scheduled for January 15.

Jadhav joined BJP in the presence of MLA Parag Shah and is likely to be a candidate from Ghatkopar on the ruling party's tickets, marking a strategic blow to the NCP (SP) at a time when alliances were under consideration for the civic polls.

Jadhav's departure could trigger internal party dissatisfaction in both the BJP and the NCP (SP), with her expected candidacy leading to potential unrest within the BJP in the Ghatkopar ward and creating a setback for the NCP's electoral prospects in Mumbai.

(With inputs from agencies.)